In the aftermath of the arrest of Ammon Bundy and the death of LaVoy Finicum, there is a always a lot of talk about fighting a tyrannical federal government. I am not intrinsically opposed to that. For one to be intrinsically opposed to such a thing, one would also have to take the position that the Founding Fathers were in the wrong to fight King George and Parliament.

Historians tell us that just under 3% of colonists actually took up arms in the Revolutionary war. Hence the modern expression of the “III percenters”. That appellation denotes those who, if necessary, would again be willing to fight a tyrannical government. Hence my wearing the “III percenter” symbol prominently on my arm. Obviously I support the concept.

However, make no mistake, 3% isn’t going to get the job done today. Technology has altered the playing field radically. This might bring us to discussing how many Americans would actually take up arms against a tyrannical government, as opposed to the millions who are just running their mouths.

But I believe that discussion is seriously premature – because there is another option. That option is ‘us’; the American people. We have ‘allowed’ every form of negative change to occur that has taken place in our system of government. Of course there have been positive changes, but for the sake of this discussion, we’re speaking of those that have been negative.

So what are these changes that have been negative? Well, that would be hard to say. Why? Because we – the American people – are so highly fractured. We can see that by mentioning just a few topics. Abortion. Gun Control. Same-sex marriage. And the list could go on and on.

On some of these issues there will never be a consensus. But many issues that divide us, do so because Americans focus on every possible argument to support their chosen position – except liberty. So…I would propose to you that until we’ve exhausted attempting to educate our fellow citizens as to the fact that liberty, not their personal passions, should be the touchstone of their political decision-making, armed rebellion is out of the question. Why? Because unless you plan to replace the national government with a dictatorship, the very assholes will be making the very same mistakes all over again. Is that what you want to bleed and die for?

Let’s again declare what liberty is. “Liberty if freedom constrained only by our responsibility to the respect the equal rights of others.”

I’m doing my part every day to wake Americans up to the fact that all of our decisions concerning the public domain should be based on a firm understanding of, and commitment to, liberty, not personal passions.

I hope you will support this effort by sharing the meaningful posts that appear on this page, as well as encouraging others to follow this page and what we’re doing here together.